Anyone tried or know anything about Joseph Magnus bourbon?

[0895]

4 hours ago, DeepCover said:

What did you think of the other one? I'm curious to see how the 2 compare.

I have liked everything from Magnus that I have tried so far.

The Murray Hill Club just spoke to me more at the tasting, so I picked that up.  I found it to contain much more complexity.  Both were excellent, I just don't have room for everything

 

I also special ordered (through the mail) the "Cigar Blend", but I have not opened or tried that one yet.

[DeepCover]

38 minutes ago, 0895 said:

I have liked everything from Magnus that I have tried so far.

The Murray Hill Club just spoke to me more at the tasting, so I picked that up.  I found it to contain much more complexity.  Both were excellent, I just don't have room for everything

 

I also special ordered (through the mail) the "Cigar Blend", but I have not opened or tried that one yet.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I just ordered the standard JAM straight bourbon. I'll report back once I get a chance to try it.

 

Based on a few reviews, I was a buyer anyway, but wow Nancy really brought it. I wish we could get more details like that with other labels/distillers. I see she helped out with Wyoming Whiskey also. After a few poor reviews regarding batch inconsistencies, I'd written it off. I'll have to give it a shot now that it sounds like things are turning around.

[Harry in WashDC]

On 1/1/2017 at 10:07 AM, smokinjoe said:

Check out Harry's review above.  It sounds like it has many good things going for it for my palate preferences, at least.  But then, I'm a fan of well executed finished bourbons. 

 

BTW Harry:  Taken it out for a second spin, yet ?

[SORRY, Joe - late responding.]

 

Yes, I have.  I'm down about 1/4 of the 750.  I still like its balance (no dominant flavor but lots of them in there), complexity (flavors I think I can tease out shift a little while I'm chewing which keeps me interested),  and extra-long finish (so sipping gets spread out).  It still strikes me as an excellent after-dinner sipper like a vintage port or an older brandy rather than an everyday pour or something to have with a casual dinner.  As an after inner sipper, it doesn't have that grape sweetness, of course, that port particularly and brandy sometimes has, but it is still "sweeter" to me than many finished bourbons I've tried.  In other words, it'll substitute nicely for a dessert.

 

Still have not done the promised SBS with the latest WR experiment which is sitting behind the dining room door.  Price, of course, remains an obstacle, but over the last week or so, I found a mitigating factor.  A 20yr+ vintage port in a good year may be cheaper than the Cigar Blend (depending on which House you buy), but once opened, you can't keep it around for a year or two (well, you could, but . . .).  Open brandies last longer due to distillation, but at that point prices start to be about the same, so it comes down to what you prefer.

 

AS I said - this is NOT a daily pour, but it sure does give me a "dryer" alternative to my ports, dessert wines, and armagnacs.

 

[Aside: I almost want to take up cigars just to see how it holds up.  I'm pretty sure it would do just fine.]

[Guest]

Nice video review by Chris Trevino of the Joseph Magnus Murray Hill Club and Cigar Blend Bourbons -- in which he gives due credit to Nancy "The Nose" Fraley, and master distiller Matt Witzig.  

  

Edited January 21, 2017 by Steve L

[DeepCover]

Thanks, Steve L for posting the latest review. I had missed it. That's a hell of a nice endorsement on the Cigar Blend. 

[Guest]

26 minutes ago, DeepCover said:

Thanks, Steve L for posting the latest review. I had missed it. That's a hell of a nice endorsement on the Cigar Blend. 

You're welcome DC.   ...Before I discovered this forum, Chris was my only guide to the wonderful world of spirits -- I watched every YouTube video on his channel, and I look forward to the new ones whenever they come out.  I followed his advice to build a basic selection of spirits, to try a variety of different, quality whiskies -- and now I tend to follow his lead on special bottlings like these.  The time and care he takes led me to dig more and more, which led me here...and the road continues....

[WhiskeyBlender]

A week and a half ago, I was in DC making some coupe adjustments to batch #2 of Cigar Blend, and assembled the components to marry and finish batch #3 in Armagnac casks as well. I'll be back out there in a few more weeks next month to determine if batch #2 is near being ready for release, and will also be working on some new whiskeys. I intend to scale Cigar Blend up a little so that it is more accessible, so if you want to try it and didn't catch batch #1, you'll have an opportunity. 

 

I'm glad that those who have tried it like it. It is my baby and I watch the cask like a hawk! 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

[Harry in WashDC]

Steve - Thanks for posting the link.  I had passed on the Murray Hill, opting for the Cigar Blend #1 "for research only", figuring if I was going to spend that much money, it would not be on a "light" bourbon blend.  Since my impression of the CB#1 meshes with Mr. Trevino's (although I sure hope I didn't make those faces while I was savoring but know I probably did), I may have to use my tax refund, if any, to get a MH "for more research".

 

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Harry in WashDC said:

Steve - Thanks for posting the link.  I had passed on the Murray Hill, opting for the Cigar Blend #1 "for research only", figuring if I was going to spend that much money, it would not be on a "light" bourbon blend.  Since my impression of the CB#1 meshes with Mr. Trevino's (although I sure hope I didn't make those faces while I was savoring but know I probably did), I may have to use my tax refund, if any, to get a MH "for more research".

 

 

Great to hear...I signed up for the website and am awaiting my secret-club-card...    Generally, when Chris issues that kind of foot-puttin-down testimony, I'll run out and try to get a bottle.  (He hasn't steered me wrong yet.)   Now, with corroboration from Harry in WashDC... I just might have to buy two!   ...I listened to the podcast with Nancy and was pleased to hear that she had worked with the guys at J. Henry.  In my (very) short tasting-career, their Barrel Proof stuff stood out among the "craft" makers I've stumbled across.

[WhiskeyBlender]

Steve L., glad to hear you like the J. Henry & Sons Patton Road Reserve cask strength bourbon. I've been working with them for nearly 6 years now. Liz and Joe Henry and their 2 sons are really honest-to-God wonderful folks who care deeply about making high quality whiskey from the varietal of red corn they grow on their farm. I'm most fond of their cask strength bourbon as well, which is packed with rich, intense flavors. They're going to be a craft bourbon to watch. 

[0895]

Cracked open my bottle of cigar blend this past weekend and tried all 3 (cigar, murray, and the regular juice) side by side by side with a buddy.

All 3 of these are fantastic pours.

 

The regular juice tasted very fruit forward to me (in a good way) with not much spice.  It goes down smooth and easy.  Although the complexity was low for me, I found it very interesting.  My #3

 

The cigar blend is definitely the most spicy of the bunch.  Lots of intense flavors and richness.  Drinks more like a rye to me than a bourbon.  My #2 in the tasting.

 

Murray Hill Club was and still is my favorite of the bunch.  Very complex flavors consisting of biscuits/shortbread, a touch of citrus, just a hint of smoke?, and a whole bunch of other things I couldn't quite figure out how to describe on paper.  This is an incredible pour for someone who gets bored with flavors easily and is looking for something to keep them entertained.  It changes constantly in the glass and every few minutes you get different flavors and aromas from it.

 

Yes they are all somewhat expensive, but I feel the quality of the whiskey easily justifies the price of admission.

[Guest]

On 1/24/2017 at 9:42 PM, 0895 said:

Yes they are all somewhat expensive, but I feel the quality of the whiskey easily justifies the price of admission.

 

I'm not sure how I'd go about procuring a bottle...  Did you order yours online? (I don't think we can do that in Illinois....) 

[0895]

1 hour ago, Steve L said:

 

I'm not sure how I'd go about procuring a bottle...  Did you order yours online? (I don't think we can do that in Illinois....) 

 

There's a store in town here that has the regular and the murray hill blend in stock.

 

The cigar blend I mail ordered from a store in Wash DC and had shipped to my house.

Not sure what Illinois laws are, but I know the local store will ship bottles.....depending on state laws.  Otherwise, you could road trip it down here and pickup.  Its only 5 hrs. 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, 0895 said:

 

There's a store in town here that has the regular and the murray hill blend in stock.

 

The cigar blend I mail ordered from a store in Wash DC and had shipped to my house.

Not sure what Illinois laws are, but I know the local store will ship bottles.....depending on state laws.  Otherwise, you could road trip it down here and pickup.  Its only 5 hrs. 

I actually have pals in St Louis who might pick one up for me!  Thanks for the scoop!

 

[DeepCover]

On January 22, 2017 at 4:41 PM, Steve L said:

Great to hear...I signed up for the website and am awaiting my secret-club-card...    Generally, when Chris issues that kind of foot-puttin-down testimony, I'll run out and try to get a bottle.  (He hasn't steered me wrong yet.)   Now, with corroboration from Harry in WashDC... I just might have to buy two!   ...I listened to the podcast with Nancy and was pleased to hear that she had worked with the guys at J. Henry.  In my (very) short tasting-career, their Barrel Proof stuff stood out among the "craft" makers I've stumbled across.

Not to hijack the thread, but funny you mention the J. Henry & Sons Patton Reserve. I've seen/heard a handful of positive reviews on this particular bottle. I have a friend visiting Chicago this week and he's bringing me a bottle back. I can't wait to crack it open. My ears always perk up when I hear "cask strength" and "wheat in the mash bill".

[wadewood]

I've tried the Murray Hill blend and the Magnus triple cask and they both would be decent $30 bottles of whiskey.  But the price puts in the stupid category.  You can buy so many better bourbons for less.  The fact is those getting into the NDP game these days are having to pay crazy prices to source well aged, 8 plus years, stock bourbon.  MGPi is laughing all the way to the bank.  That is if they bought from MGPi directly.  They could have gone through a whiskey broker, which adds another layer to the cost.

[DCFan]

For those of you in the area, various Va ABC's are having tastings of Joseph Magnus bourbon and gin this weekend.

https://www.abc.virginia.gov/search-results#/search?q=Joseph Magnus Bourbon

 

The bourbon is $92 and the gin is $34.

Edited May 30, 2017 by DCFan

[WhiskeyBlender]

@ Mr. Anal Retentive Bourbon Drinker, when I was  replicating the original Jos. A. Magnus bottle from 1892  that had passed in the family through the generations to end up with Jimmy Turner, Joseph Magnus' great grandson, it was clear that I had to use an older whiskey in order to get the taste profile right. The original Magnus, as a distiller, blender, and rectifier, actually opened in 1892, so it was obvious that they had not distilled the whiskey that was in that original bottle. There was no way I could have used a very young whiskey distilled at the new Magnus distillery in DC to get the right profile. Using sourced stock was the only way to go in order to maintain the integrity of the original. The sourced stock is now 10 to 19 years old. 

 

Also, when we analyzed the original bottle of whiskey, we found that they were using sherry casks for the maturation. Thus, I've used that to replicate the aroma and taste profile of the original. It might not be to everyone's taste, I certainly get, but I do want people to at least understand WHY the whiskey had to be sourced so that it would be in keeping with the original juice. Interestingly enough, since the original Magnus distillery was in Cincinnati, it would have been perfectly reasonable for the sourced bourbon from 1892 to have come from what is now the MGP campus in Indiana, as it is very close by. 

 

The Murray Hill Club blend, which is a blend of a small percentage by the PG of 9 year old light whiskey with 11 and 18 year old whiskeys, is meant to replicate the original Murray Hill Club blend. Unfortunately I didn't have an original bottle from the turn of the 19th century to go by, only advertisements that describe the whiskey. But again, it is meant to replicate something from 100 year ago. It might not be to everyone's palate, but I did the best I could to replicate the original given the resources I have at my disposal in the 21st century. 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

 

On 5/30/2017 at 10:06 AM, wadewood said:

I've tried the Murray Hill blend and the Magnus triple cask and they both would be decent $30 bottles of whiskey.  But the price puts in the stupid category.  You can buy so many better bourbons for less.  The fact is those getting into the NDP game these days are having to pay crazy prices to source well aged, 8 plus years, stock bourbon.  MGPi is laughing all the way to the bank.  That is if they bought from MGPi directly.  They could have gone through a whiskey broker, which adds another layer to the cost.

 

Edited June 1, 2017 by WhiskeyBlender

[wadewood]

Yes Nancy, I'm well aware of your process which you have posted in multiple places.  If you read my comment you would see I'm complaining about the price which you already said you don't control.

[WhiskeyBlender]

3 hours ago, wadewood said:

Yes Nancy, I'm well aware of your process which you have posted in multiple places.  If you read my comment you would see I'm complaining about the price which you already said you don't control.

I didn't realize it was you who had posted the comment. Even though I don't have anything to do with the price, I do think that selling it for $30 is a bit cheap for bourbons that are 10 to 19 years old, especially when there are bourbons that are so much younger that are sold for a premium price. 

 

[wadewood]

13 hours ago, WhiskeyBlender said:

I didn't realize it was you who had posted the comment. Even though I don't have anything to do with the price, I do think that selling it for $30 is a bit cheap for bourbons that are 10 to 19 years old, especially when there are bourbons that are so much younger that are sold for a premium price. 

 

The regular Magnus, or at least some single barrels they are selling, are 10 year old whiskey, not mix with 18/19 year old stuff.  The price is still $100.  Buffalo Trace is around 9 years for $25.  Henry McKeena 10 year BiB is $27.  Elijah Craig just dropped their 12 year statement, but still mix of 9 to 12 year for under $30.

Did they buy the 18 year whiskey from a broker or from MGPi directly?

[DeepCover]

I cracked my Jos. A. Magnus bottle open for the first time last night. I think it's quite nice and I can't wait to try other offerings like the Murray Hill.

 

The color is beautiful, with the dark, older bourbon in the blend clearly showing up. I get blackberry, raisin, tobacco, oak and a little orange. 

[wadewood]

I'm hosting a blind tasting of J. Magnus whiskies vs some other bourbons in 2 weeks.  Blind tastings don't lie, we will see if worth the hype.

[smokinjoe]

9 hours ago, wadewood said:

Blind tastings don't lie, we will see if worth the hype.

 

They also don't always tell the whole truth, either.  

[mbroo5880i]

11 hours ago, wadewood said:

I'm hosting a blind tasting of J. Magnus whiskies vs some other bourbons in 2 weeks.  Blind tastings don't lie, we will see if worth the hype.

 

Did you buy or did you receive samples?